Page 17 of Just My Fake Husband

“And that was before I realized that my dad’s not going to give me my job back without a huge pendulum shift.”

“So, you really were asking for PR help then but now you’re asking for a . . . a marriage?” When I say the word out loud, a chill creeps across my skin.

“Yes. Like I said, it wouldn’t be a normal one. My dad really believes in the power of marriage. It’s the gold standard. It means so much more than the sum of its parts to him. It means stability and maturity. You can’t have the company’s philanthropy director take a bender in the Czech Republic and just expect things to be okay. The only hope I have with him and the board is to settle down. Show that I’m capable of commitment.”

“The board? They’re being sort of . . . old fashioned don’t you think?” I assume the posture of someone I picture could be on a board of a multi-million-dollar finance company. And apparently, that someone is British. “There’s nothing the love of a good woman can’t fix!” I hook my arm at the elbow in a motion likeGosh darn it, don’t ya know?!“That’s so like the patriarchy to . . . to place the responsibility for a man’s actions on a woman.”

He stands but his voice is gentle. “The patriarchy? Whoa. No one ever said anything about that. The board hasn’t mentioned marriage at all. This is just the tone of my father’s beliefs being ingrained in the company. My dad’s hardnosed. He’s not a warm person by any stretch. But he does have standards. And the board knows that. They do, too.”

“This is ludicrous.” I tug at my mess of hair. “People don’t just get married in order to get their old job back. How do you expect me to just jump on board?”

“It’s more than that, though. It’s . . .” He purses his lips and the dimples seem to be saying to me,Heed this man.“The company is mine when my dad retires. That’s always been the expectation. It’s not just about being the director of philanthropy. It’s about the integrity of the company and my family and all that. I’m all my dad has. Everyone else is working for Sebastian. Except for Milo. He’s not working for anyone yet.” He shoots out a breath. “I was quite possibly the last hope my dad has of keeping the company he built from the ground up in the family. But thanks to twenty-four really bad hours, that’s gone.” He scratches his forehead and bites down so that his jaw muscles jump. “I just have to prove I’m trustworthy. Bide my time and be patient with the process, yes. But I absolutely have to prove myself.”

“And get married.”

His face is sober. “And get married. In name only. I’m thinking we’d end it after one year. After my dad is convinced I’ve changed.”

“It might be fake, but your dad needs to think it’s real. The board needs to think it’s real.”

“Yeah, but the board won’t be around me much because I got fired.” There’s a bulge in his temple that looks ready to burst.

“This is nuts.” I fold my arms over my middle. “It’s insulting, honestly. How come you’re asking me? You think I’m that gullible? That desperate?”

“No.”

“Then why me? Don’t you have a friend who can help you out in a bind?”

“No, no one like you.”

“Hey, I’m flattered!” It’s meant to be sarcastic, but I actually really am flattered he’d ask me. The little me from high school is going crazy right now, but the rest of me thinks he’s out of his ever-loving mind. “The answer is no, though. No way. Okay?”

“What’s the cost per year of Caring Souls? About sixty thousand, right? I’ll pay for it.”

My body stills. What?

“I don’t need your money,” I shoot the words out.

“You just said you did.”

“Well, not in exchange for my integrity.”

“It’s a legally binding thing. People get married all the time for all sorts of reasons not even remotely related to love.”

“You still haven’t told me why me.”

“When I got to your office, I wanted your public relations help. That was it. And you were the only person I knew outside of my dad’s company who could do it. But then when we talked, I don’t know, it felt good.”

“But I was terrible to you! And, quite frankly, you were terrible to me!”

“I know. But for some reason, it was the first time in over a month that I’d felt hope.”

I shake my head. “No. I can’t help you.” I bite my lip. Yeah, I need money for Skye. But I’ll figure things out a different way.

“River, please.”

I hear Skye’s shuffle across the kitchen floor. I raise my chin. “Can you just go? Now?”

Chapter 6

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